National Bank of the Redwoods taps D.E. Kelley to be president.

Dennis E. Kelley, 40, was appointed president and chief operating officer of National Bank of the Redwoods, a subsidiary of Redwood Empire Bancorp, Santa Rosa, Calif.

He succeeds Patrick W. Kilkenny, 47, who continues as chairman and chief executive officer. Mr. Kilkenny had been president and CEO for nine years before being named chairman in January.

In addition, Gale D. Bridgeman, 41, was named controller. She joined the company in June from Pacific Western Bancshares where she had worked 10 years, most recently as vice president of finance.

Mr. Kelley joined the company in 1986. In 1988, he became senior vice president and chief financial officer of the holding company. Earlier, he had been a state bank examiner.

As chief financial officer, Mr. Kelley was involved in the bank's expansion into niche areas, such as electronic banking, factoring, and merchant bank cards.

Redwood Empire is the holding company for two operating subsidiaries: National Bank of the Redwoods, a commercial bank, and Allied Bank, a savings institution. The company operates throughout Northern and Central California.

-- Franklin Smith

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